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labor, at little or no cost to the Invader. With Kentucky - Tennessee,
and parts of North Carolina & Virginia & South-Carolina, lost
to us, what are we to do for fppd, if Middle-Alabama is seriously
disturbed?
I remain, with very great respect,
(Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter.
P. S. If the Secretary will furnish arms, I will furnish 5000 War-
troops for the post without delay, with the troops already there,
included.
(Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. c

Executive Department.
Montgomery, Alabama, April 4th, 1862.
Col. Wm M. Byrd, Selma,
Sir,
I am, just this moment, in receipt of your favor of 2^d inst. Sorry
you have had any difficulty; Volunteers are hard to control. I had
purposely avoided this department up-on any pers-onal complications with
gentlemen, hower patriotic their purposes. I yield, however to none, in my deep
anxiety - and resolute purpose - to advance the Common Cause.

Mr Hardy tendered a company, of 90-day Volunteers, from Dallas and Bibb.
I had called-for them from these Counties. It was my duty to accept them.
It was not in my power - if I were so disposed - to control the Volunteers
as to the Companies they go in. The first Company they join is entitled
to hold them.

I sent no dispatch to Mr Hardy, except the one
accepting his Company - that I remember. In reply to Col. Harrison's letter,
I telegraphed him, that Dallas Co. would be credited with every
Volunteer - for 90 days - who left it; and it is immaterial what
Company they go in - so far as the credit is concerned. Is not this right?
Should the County not be thus credited? It would be unjust to
the County to with-hold such credit. The Col. can't make a
Volunteer Company. If the men volunteered & organized - by
electing officers, every man, participating in the Election, is bound to
the Company - unless, before that, he had bound himself - in a
similar way, to some other Company; and if thus bound - he is subject
to the order of his Captain. If Hardy's Company was not organized
at the time yours was, then any who had promised to join him, who
united with your company and participated in its organization, by
by voting for officers, would in my opinion, belong to your
Command could not, afterwards without your consent.

I hope you may yet fill-up your Company - but if you
cannot - I will accept it, under the circumstances, with the men
you have - and you can proceed to Mobile, at once.
Truly yours (Signed) Jn^o Gill Shorter. c

Executive Department.
Montgomery, Alabama, April 7^th 1862
Hon G. W. Randolph, Secretary of War. Rich^d Sir
One of my aids - in organizing a Regiment of Volunteers,
under the call upon this State, for twelve-Regiments - for three years or
the War, found several persons, in one Company, who had been
twelve-months Volunteers in the 5^th Regiment of Alabama
Volunteers and had re-enlisted, and were absent on Furlough.

Those Volunteers shewed, to my aid, a letter from the Hon. J. S.
MCarry - a member of Congress from this State, - saying that Mr Benjamin,
Secretary of War, consented that they might go into the
Company where he found them. Thereupon, my aid accepted them, as
members of the Company. After the organization of the Regiment in which
their Company was, had been commenced - and after a Colonel had
had been elected - a Telegraphed dispatch was received, which
seemed to indicate a change in the position of the Secretary of War -